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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Tuao cacao earns international recognition at Chocolate Awards

Tuao cacao earns international recognition at Chocolate Awards

Published Aug 15, 2026 04:29 pm
TUAO, Cagayan — Cacao beans produced in this municipality have gained international recognition after being used in a chocolate bar that won a Bronze Award at the International Chocolate Awards 2026.
Kasama Chocolate’s 70% Tuao Chocolate Bar scored 87.8 percent and received the Bronze Award in the Micro-batch – Plain/Origin Dark Chocolate Bars category during the competition held in Canada.
The cacao beans used in the award-winning chocolate came from the NCB Cacao Farm in Tuao, owned by Cagayan Provincial Administrator Atty. Maria Rosario Mamba-Villaflor.
Mamba-Villaflor said the recognition was a significant milestone not only for her farm but also for Tuao, as it could help establish the municipality as a source of quality cacao and chocolate products in both domestic and international markets.
“This is really the first step into being able to produce our own chocolate from Tuao, that I personally want to market internationally,” Mamba-Villaflor said.
She added that the recognition could help make her farm a reliable source of quality cacao beans and seedlings while encouraging other farmers to produce high-quality cacao.
The NCB Cacao Farm worked with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Local Government Unit of Tuao in promoting proper cacao cultivation and the production of quality beans for chocolate-making.
Kasama Chocolate, a bean-to-bar chocolate company based in Vancouver, Canada, works with cacao farmers and farm partners in different locations to source high-quality beans.
Among its co-founders is Vincent Garcia, a native of Tuao, Cagayan.
In the Philippines, Kasama Chocolate sources cacao beans from partner producers in Cagayan, Isabela, Davao, and Zamboanga del Sur, among other areas.
The International Chocolate Awards is a global competition that recognizes excellence in fine chocolate and artisan chocolate products, giving international exposure to producers and chocolate makers.

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